US court blocks Trump administration plan to cut FEMA workforce

A US federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration acted unlawfully in ordering personnel changes that would have cut and constrained the workforce of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The decision was issued on Friday by US District Judge Susan Illston in California. It centres on temporary FEMA reservists whose contracts are used to support disaster response after hurricanes, wildfires, floods and other emergencies.

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Judge Illston said the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, exceeded its authority when it moved to restrict the agency's ability to manage its own workforce. Labor groups representing federal workers brought the case after the administration decided to stop renewing many of those temporary contracts. The judge said the government had not provided what she described as a reasoned explanation for the move.

The ruling also noted that FEMA was projecting a workforce of 11,383 employees for the coming fiscal year, about half of its previous level, without a clear justification for that figure. The court did not immediately order the administration to reverse the cuts or impose penalties. Illston said those questions would be considered in a separate decision expected next month.

The case matters because FEMA is the main federal agency responsible for coordinating disaster response in the United States. Its staffing levels can affect how quickly the government can deploy support after major storms, fires and floods. The dispute also comes amid a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce.

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The ruling comes against a longer backdrop of debate over FEMA's role and independence. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Congress strengthened the agency's autonomy, and federal law says DHS cannot substantially or significantly reduce FEMA's authority, responsibilities or functions. Trump has previously questioned the need for FEMA and suggested that states should take greater responsibility for disaster preparedness.

What happens next will depend on the separate decision the judge said is due next month. It remains unclear whether the administration will change course before then or continue to defend the staffing plan. The case is likely to remain closely watched because it could affect both FEMA's operational capacity and the limits of executive authority over the agency.

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